Weekly Thursday storytime, sing-along and play session for infants and toddlers under two at the Kingsessing Library branch.
Read Baby Read is back at Kingsessing Library on Thursday, October 22, from 10:30 to 11:30 AM. It's part of the Free Library of Philadelphia's early literacy program for infants and toddlers under two, which runs across 26 neighborhood branches. The whole thing is built on the idea that storytime should be as much about singing, dancing and playing as it is about reading, so it's not just sitting and listening.
At the neighborhood level, the sessions are led by librarians who mix stories and songs with tickles, bounces, bubbles and peek-a-boos. It's designed for the youngest kids, so the energy is more about movement and interaction than keeping still. And if you've got older siblings in tow, they're welcome to join in too.
Beyond the storytimes, the program includes sing-alongs, dance parties, parent workshops and 'parent circles.' The library has also set up permanent 'baby spaces' for free play, so there's a spot for the little ones to just be little. The Free Library partners with community organizations like Reach Out and Read, ELECT and AlphaCare to put it all together, and the program is made possible by a grant from the William Penn Foundation.
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One of the best parts is what happens after the session: families are welcome to hang out in the community room to explore baby toys and socialize with other parents. It's as much a chance for the adults to connect as it is for the kids to play. The session runs from 10:30 to 11:30 AM, and it's a recurring Thursday morning thing, so if this one doesn't fit your schedule, there's another one next week.
